The Second Amendment Sales Tax Holiday kicks off today, but the savings won’t be as substantial as in years past. That’s due to the legislature’s decision to end state sales tax holidays in the final budget compromise from the special session. But local sales tax exemptions are still in effect. Local Sales Tax Board Executive Director Roger Bergeron says that’s because it the legislature may have just forgotten. Early estimates show local school boards and governments may lose 500,000 dollars in tax revenue due to the local sales tax exemption being maintained.

Bullying is a widespread issue, and in a recent study by WalletHub, Louisiana has ranked the number one state for bullying problems. The website compared 47 states and DC across 20 key metrics. Among the study results, Louisiana ranked number one in several categories, including high school students involved in fights, cyber bullying, and suicide attempts.

LSU fans can expect a new layer of security when attending games at Tiger Stadium as select gates will now be equipped with metal detectors. LSU sports information director Michael Bonnette says the experience will be similar to going through screenings at an airport or NFL games. Bonnette says this is a pilot program leading up to an SEC mandate that all events have metal detectors by 2020.

Two of the students involved in the alleged hazing death of Max Gruver have pleaded no contest, and a third has agreed to cooperate with prosecutors in a move that narrows the scope of the trial. Pleading no contest will prevent the charges from being brought up in the pending civil case where the Gruver family sued LSU, the Fraternity, the defendants, and others for 25 million dollars.

A grand jury indicted a 21-year-old Lafayette man Thursday on reckless operation in the death of Baton Rouge councilman Buddy Amoroso, who was fatally struck by an SUV while bicycling on a rural, two-lane road in late June. Alexander, the driver of the Chevrolet Tahoe that hit and killed Amoroso, was arrested after the June 30 crash. A man biking with Amoroso, Tom Clement, was also injured.

Mandeville synagogue hit by vandals with anti-Semitic phrases & swastikas. Mandeville police are investigating the vandalism of the synagogue as a potential hate crime.

Detectives have confirmed through regional law enforcement agencies that there have been no similar incidents at other area synagogues across the state.

Current Lafayette federal bankruptcy Judge Robert Summerhays was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate to a lifetime federal district court judgeship on Thursday.

The 52 year old Summerhays was nominated by President Donald Trump to a judgeship on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, which includes Lafayette and Acadiana , earlier this year. The 42-parish Western District also includes federal courthouses in Alexandria, Lake Charles, Shreveport and Monroe.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says their enforcement agents issued 39 citations to 29 subjects over the Labor Day weekend for alleged dove baiting. L-D-W-F spokesperson Adam Einck says Citations were issued to hunters in six Parishes. Einck says it’s illegal to scatter salt, grain or other feed on a field to attract migratory game birds. Citations were issued to hunters in Franklin, Rapides, St. Helena, West Feliciana, Avoyelles and Evangeline Parishes.

Sports..

The Saints are getting closer to their season opener on Sunday against Tampa Bay.

Coach Sean Payton said Thursday that starting left guard Andrus Peat is day-t-to-day as he’s dealing with a quadriceps injury. Peat was seen participating yesterday during the portion of practice open to the media. But backup guard and tackle Jermon Bushrod was absent.

The Saints go into Sunday’s season opener against Tampa Bay with just two running backs, Alvin Kamara and the recently signed Mike Gillislee. Mark Ingram begins serving his four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s policy against performance enhancing drugs.

LSU should have success moving the football this Saturday against Southeastern Louisiana. The Lions allowed 554 yards in a loss to ULM last week. Meanwhile, the Tigers defense will face a quarterback in Chason Virgil who threw for 358 yards against the Warhawks. The transfer from Fresno State also threw four touchdown passes.

LSU and Southeastern Louisiana meet on the football field for the first time since 1949 when the two schools face off in Tiger Stadium at 6 PM on Saturday. Both teams are led by Louisiana natives, Ed Orgeron for LSU and S-L-U’s Frank Scelfo is a native of Abbeville and has known Orgeron since high school.